Welcome to BEST
The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce
Charity Reg. No. 858
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Latest NewsPlease also visit Greenrock, another Bermuda organisation dedicated to the preservation of the environment.   |
AnnouncementsBEST backs study showing Island could get one fifth or its energy from wave action
A one-year study has confirmed that Bermuda is capable of drawing a significant portion of its energy from the ocean.
BEST calls on Government to adopt a more assertive thrust in encouraging energy conservation as well as environmentally friendly strategies.
Cyrus Trust Appeal denied, Zanzara Trust withdrawal of application - BEST response
These decision, while welcome in that they bring a degree of closure to two long-festering matters, do not adequately address the fundamental issue that because both applications were inadequate or inaccurate, or both, they SHOULD NOT have been attended by the DAB and therefore should never have reached the Environment Minister's desk. For whatever reason, the DAB rendered decisions in both cases based on flawed applications. Those decisions were then the subjects of appeals. It is our opinion, however, that as much as a year ago, both applications should have been turned back to the applicants and not left to occupy undeserved place and time in the DOP files and on the Minister's calendar.
Had this taken place, it could have saved the time and energy of individuals and organisations like BEST who have had to mount a protracted campaign merely to get a result that should have been a "no-brainer."Had this taken place, it would have saved former Environment Minister Roban from his rushed approval of the appeals on his last day in that office, yielding a profoundly different result to his public service career.
As it now stands, the current Minister's decision on The Cyrus Trust appeal and the withdrawal of the Zanzara appeal infer that these were legitimate appeals that were entertained and/or decided on their merits. In the interest of a healthy and credible application process in the future, we would encourage the Department of Planning and the Development Applicant Applications Board to strictly uphold their standards for accepting applications, knowing that the failure to do so can, as in this case, cause time, energy and effort to be wasted and credibility to be lost.
Letter to Cabinet Office
Good morning.
Speech to Rotary, January 24, 2012 given by Stuart Hayward, BEST
Media coverage on the speech can be found at: http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120125/NEWS07/701259971#comments http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=56376&TM=41173.21 http://bernews.com/2012/01/hayward-on-economy-race-environment/
Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for this opportunity to talk a bit about BEST, the Bermuda Environmental sustainability Taskforce, and the work we do. Most often when people hear about BEST it is to do with some controversial issue. What many do not realise is that by far most of our work takes place “behind the scenes” as it were, and is hardly considered newsworthy Read more: Speech to Rotary, January 24, 2012 given by Stuart Hayward, BEST Zanzar Trust Press Release
BEST Media Release: Cabinet Minister upholds appeal from another Cabinet Minister, violating trust and process. The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has just become aware that Cabinet Minister Walter Roban upheld the appeal by Cabinet Minister Zane DeSilva which would allow damaging construction to take place on lands with protective zonings. This decision is an affront to orderly development as laid out and accepted by Parliament in the Bermuda Plan 2008, and a blot on the Premier’s aspirations toward “good governance”. The key reasons this decision is problematic are: * Perceived conflict of interest * The proposal violates several aspects of the Bermuda Plan * The applicant, a Cabinet Minister, uses back door to effect zoning changes that were rejected at the Bermuda Plan 2008 Tribunal * Minister hinges decision on “conditions” * Independent Inspector decries lack of information * Every government stakeholder agency was handicapped by a dearth of information, including: The Department of Planning’s technical officers, the Department of Conservation Services (DCS), the Department of Environmental Protection, the Development Applications Board (DAB) even the Min of W&E AND the Independent Inspector. These are spelled out below: Wangari Maathai
We at BEST are saddened to hear of the death of Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmental activist and Member of Parliament who started the Green Belt Movement that spread through and beyond the borders of Kenya. Her leadership inspired the planting of an estimated 45 million trees in and around Kenya to counter the environmental degradation caused by deforestation in her homeland. The Green Belt Movement also empowered rural African women through educational and economic opportunities. Her books "Unbowed: a Memoir", "The Challenge for Africa", and "Replenishing the Earth" are worth reading. She is an inspiration to Environmentalists, Africans and women everywhere. The planet will miss her energy and guidance. The Bermudian "BEST of Bermuda Awards 2011"
Congratulations to Stuart on receiving the BEST of Bermuda, 2011 Award in the category, "Booster for the Environment"
June - Bermuda National Trust Awards
BEST Board Members, Stuart Hayward and David Wingate were recognized at the recent The Bermuda National Trust Awards Ceremony attended by Dame Jennifer Smith (Minister, Education) and Derrick Binns (PS Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy).
Latest News, March
March 2011
After a successful informational walk through Tucker's Point on Sunday Mar 6th ("Thank You" to Tucker's Point for permission) we are moving on to the next phase of the campaign:
1. letter-writing campaign: Sunday (Mar 13) 2-4pm at the BEST office. (NOTE: this event has been cancelled as coordinator isn't well. instructions for writing at home will be posted soon)
2. A community presence at the Senate next Wednesday (Mar 16) in support of Senators "doing the right thing".
Stay tuned for updates
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